Move On When Reading

Arizona's Move On When Reading (MOWR) policy aims to provide evidence-based, effective reading instruction for students in Kindergarten through third grade, setting them up for success as they move through school, college, and their careers.

According to A.R.S. §15-701, any 3rd-grade student who does not meet the MOWR cut score on the reading portion of the AASA exam will not be promoted to 4th grade. While the retention aspect of the policy often gets attention—affecting less than 3% of students annually—the primary focus of MOWR is the early identification of struggling readers. This allows for targeted interventions that help students achieve grade-level reading by the end of 3rd grade. The law is designed to equip schools and teachers with the resources and strategies to provide the specific assistance necessary for students to become lifelong readers.

There are four "good cause" exemptions to retention for 3rd-grade students who fail to meet the MOWR cut score:

1. English Learners: Students who are English learners or limited English proficient and have had fewer than two years of English language instruction.
    
2. Special Education: Students in the process of a special education referral, evaluation, or who have been diagnosed with a significant reading impairment, such as dyslexia.
    
3. Disability and IEP: Students with an identified disability and an IEP, where the IEP team (including parents) agrees that promotion is appropriate.
    
4. Sufficient Progress: Students who demonstrate sufficient reading skills or adequate progress toward meeting 3rd grade reading standards, as measured by a series of approved reading assessments.

The Arizona Department of Education offers a comprehensive guide to improve student reading, specifically for parents and caregivers of PreK-3 students. This guide helps families understand Arizona's reading requirements for 3rd grade students, emphasizes the importance of early literacy, and highlights the crucial role families play in supporting foundational reading skills. It also offers suggested activities to practice at home and provides discussion ideas for parents to use when talking to their child's school about struggling readers.